If you could spend hours gazing at the World through the eyes of Google Earth then perhaps it's time you installed the app on your iPhone. The application uses the same satellite and aerial photography found in the desktop version, only this time you navigate the globe simply by swishing your fingers across the screen.

It's advisable to have a look at the controls system in the program's Help section before you start using Google Earth on your iPhone, because some of the commands aren't immediately obvious. Once you've mastered them though, it's easy to fly across towns, cities and countryside using your fingers.

You can simply swipe the map in any direction to move around, pinch your fingers to zoom out, tap on a spot to zoom in, or make a circular motion with your fingers to rotate the viewpoint. You can even view the lie of the terrain just by tilting your iPhone.

Location, location, location

Make no mistake, Google Earth for iPhone is great for finding your way around. It can detect your current location and automatically centers the map on this point when you hit the Location icon. You can search for addresses anywhere in the World, as you would with the desktop version, plus there's a facility for perusing Wikipedia articles and geo-tagged Panoramic photos.

Google Earth includes the ability to view maps created on your desktop computer on your iOS device, which is a nice idea. The app also makes it easy to see businesses, shops, restaurants, etc. through some attractive icons.

Google Earth is one of those apps that really enhances the usefulness of your iPhone and as such it's almost criminal not to at least try it.

Download Google Earth 6.2.0 in Softonic

Google Maps has been transforming the way I, for one, find my way round strange cities or locate great bars and restaurants. One of the problems though is that I have needed a PC to use it, which is not so good when I'm walking down roads I don't recognize. Well, problem solved, or so it seems, because now Google Maps is accessible by phone.

This version lets you do all the things you should be used to and unable to live without by now. You can locate streets, companies and other points of interest like hotels and restaurants; fly round the world viewing satellite imagery from every country on Earth with some incredible footage of different landscapes and wild animals.

More usefully, Google Maps is one of the best route finders available allowing you to generate directions from any two points on the globe. It uses your GPS data to plot where you are on a map, effectively making Google Maps a satellite navigation system. What's more, if you flick on Street View from the Layers menu, you'll be able to confirm that you're on the right track.

Google Maps is now loaded with features to help you connect with people around you. Its Latitude service allows you to track the position of your friends anywhere on the planet (and vice versa). You simply need to create a Google profile then load your contacts. Google Maps for mobile then displays their locations on the map, making it easier to hook up (or avoid them!) if they are near you.

New for version 4 of Google Maps is support for Buzz. This location-aware service allows you to spread the word to people around you about what you're doing or about what you think of a certain place. Simply tap on a location and you have the option to type something about that place. Enable the Buzz layer from the options menu and you'll be able to see what people around you are saying.

Google Maps for mobile is one of those essential applications that significantly enhances the usefulness of your phone.

Download Google Maps 4.1.1 (S60 5th) in Softonic

The aim of Nokia Ovi Maps 3.0 is an ambitious one - to offer a comprehensive and accurate guide to the real world combined with the ability to share location-related content online. Though still in Beta release, Nokia Ovi Maps 3.0 represents a major breakthrough in the world of mobile navigation.

The software features some pretty major updates to version 2.0. Besides an overall improvement in map detail and quality, Nokia Ovi Maps boasts impressive new 3D features, including three-dimensional terrain and a 3D landmarks feature for more than 200 cities. This allows you to view major buildings and attractions of a city like never before, giving you 360-degree views in 3D.

Other improvements to Nokia Ovi Maps include enhanced pedestrian navigation complete with shortcuts through parks and squares, high-res aerial images for satellite and hybrid modes, and train route maps.

Drivers will love the new car navigation features, which include details of speed limits, real-time traffic information, and lane assistance.

Perhaps the most significant feature of Nokia Ovi Maps 3.0 Beta is its integration with Ovi by Nokia. Maps are now available via the company's online service, where they can be browsed, shared, favorited, and synchronized.

Because Nokia Ovi Maps 3.0 is still in Beta it's a little unstable and it’s a bit of a memory hog at times. However, it represents an essential tool for getting around town.

Download Nokia Ovi Maps 3.03.10 (S60 5th) in Softonic

Google Maps has been transforming the way I, for one, find my way round strange cities or locate great bars and restaurants. One of the problems though is that I have needed a PC to use it, which is not so good when I'm walking down roads I don't recognize. Well problem solved, or so it seems. Because now Google Maps is accessible by phone.

This version lets you do all the things you should be used to and unable to live without by now. You can locate streets, companies and other points of interest like hotels and restaurants; fly round the world viewing satellite imagery from every country on Earth with some incredible footage of different landscapes and wild animals.

More usefully, Google Maps is one of the best route finders available allowing you to generate directions from any two points on the globe. It uses your GPS data to plot where you are on a map, effectively making Google Maps a satellite navigation system. What's more, if you flick on Street View from the Layers menu, you'll be able to confirm that you're on the right track.

Google Maps is now loaded with features to help you connect with people around you. Its Latitude service allows you to track the position of your friends anywhere on the planet (and vice versa). You simply need to create a Google profile then load in your contacts. Google Maps for mobile then displays their locations on the map, making it easier to hook up (or avoid them!) if they are near you.

New for version 4 of Google Maps is support for Buzz. This location-aware service allows you to spread the word to people around you about what you're doing, or about what you think of a certain place. Simply tap on a location and you have the option to type something about that place. Enable the Buzz layer from the options menu and you'll be able to see what people around you are saying.

Google Maps for mobile is one of those essential applications that significantly enhances the usefulness of your phone.

Download Google Maps for mobile 4.1.1 in Softonic

With Google Maps installed on your device, you can view street and satellite maps of the whole World. Not only this, but it can be used to plot routes, find local places of interest, socialize with people around you and 'walk' along roads with Google's Street View.

Google Maps is incredibly easy to use on your Android device. The application automatically detects your current location and displays it on screen. You can move around by holding your finger and dragging the screen and zoom in and out by pinching with your fingers.

What you can see

The great thing about Google Maps is the incredible amount of detail you can view on the maps. By applying Layers to maps, you can add information about traffic, plot the terrain, see transit lines, and access Google GPS-based social networking services, Buzz and Latitude.

Click on More Layers in Google Maps and you'll be able to overlay information from Wikipedia, access your customized maps, and check out Favorite Places, a layer that shows you the places that certain famous people like to hang out in, in a range of cities.

Plotting routes and getting directions in Google Maps is very easy. You can get directions from A to B by searching for the start and end points, or clicking on them on the map. Towns and streets can be looked up by keyword or voice searching.

Finding your way around

Tap on the Navigation icon in Google Maps and you'll be able to see 3D maps and live traffic information. Moving around in Street View is a wonderful experience. It's linked to the Android compass, meaning that as you move and tilt the phone, the view changes with it.

Google Maps also displays information about businesses and points of interest. For instance, when the name of a restaurant appears on a map, you can click it to access more information, read user reviews, and get contact details. The new Places feature in Google Maps for Android offers a quick link to information about special places.

It's hard to pick faults in Google Maps, but we would point out that it has a tendency to hog system resources, especially if you have many layers running at once. Be sure to kill the process when you're not using Google Maps or your battery meter will soon start shrinking

Google Maps is currently the easiest and most effective way to find your way around using your Android phone.

Download Google Maps 6.7.0 in Softonic

Google Maps has been transforming the way we find our way around strange cities or locate great bars and restaurants. One of the problems though is that traditionally you need a PC to use it, which is not so good when you're walking down roads you don't recognize. Well problem solved, or so it seems. Because now Google Maps is accessible by Smartphone.

This version lets you do all the things you should be used to and unable to live without by now. You can locate streets, companies and other points of interest like hotels and restaurants; fly round the world viewing satellite imagery from every country on Earth with some incredible footage of different landscapes and wild animals. And, more usefully, Google Maps is one of the best route finders available allowing you to generate directions from any two points on the globe. Or virtually any two anyway.

Another great feature of Google Maps for Windows Mobile is the inclusion of Google's Latitude service. This social app allows you to track the position of your friends anywhere on the planet. You simply need to create a Google profile then load in your contacts. Google Maps for mobile then displays their locations on the map, making it easier to hook up (or avoid them!) if they are near you.

Google Maps for mobile is one of those essential applications that significantly enhances the usefulness of your Windows Mobile phone.

Download Google Maps for Windows Mobile 4.4.1 in Softonic

The aim of Nokia Maps 3.0 is an ambitious one - to offer a comprehensive and accurate guide to the real world combined with the ability to share location-related content online. Though still in Beta release and only available on a limited number of handsets, Nokia Maps 3.0 represents a major breakthrough in the world of mobile navigation.

The software features some pretty major updates to version 2.0. Besides an overall improvement in map detail and quality, Nokia Maps boasts impressive new 3D features, including three-dimensional terrain and a 3D landmarks feature for more than 200 cities. This allows you to view major buildings and attractions of a city like never before, giving you 360-degree views in 3D.

Other improvements to Nokia Maps include enhanced pedestrian navigation complete with shortcuts through parks and squares, high-res aerial images for satellite and hybrid modes, and train route maps. Drivers will love the new car navigation features, which include details of speed limits, real-time traffic information, and lane assistance.

Perhaps the most significant feature of Nokia Maps 3.0 Beta is its integration with Ovi by Nokia. Maps are now available via the company's online service, where they can be browsed, shared, favorited, and synchronized.

Because Nokia Maps 3.0 is still in Beta it's a little unstable, but if you're lucky enough to have one of the devices supported by the app, it represents an essential tool for getting around town.

Download Nokia Maps 3.0 Beta 5 in Softonic

WorldMap is a Java-based interactive political map of Earth, based on the one in the CIA's World Factbook. Once you've installed the app you'll be presented with what looks like a title page with information about the map. At first it's unclear where you go from here, until you realize you can zoom out from the Menu screen, and that this key is actually a tiny part of the top right-hand corner of the map.

As well as being able to zoom in and out, you can move around WorldMap using the directional buttons or the 2, 4, 6 and 8 keys on your phone. There's also a feature for setting a marker, which lets you draw a line from one point to another, although it's unclear what the real benefits of this is.

WorldMap displays all the countries along with their capitals and major cities. It also displays oceans and lakes, as well as lines of longitude and latitude. I appreciate that this is a political map but it feels pretty sparse in terms of information. For instance there is no topographic view, the major rivers aren't shown, and it's very sparse in terms of the cities it displays.

Nevertheless, if you need a pocket-sized guide to the political boundaries of the Earth, WorldMap represents a clear and easy-to-navigate solution.

Download WorldMap in Softonic

Download BBWeather 0.74 in Softonic

If you're one of those characters who couldn't find their way out of a glass of water then you can now save yourself with your iPhone. Instead of having to lug a map around with you all day, the ultra simple-to-use Yahoo! Maps for iPhone will help you find your way through it's crystal clear, zoomable interface.

Specially optimized for the iPhone, Yahoo! Maps for iPhone gives you the power to see a map of the tiniest street in any city in the World within seconds. You can zoom into the level of detail you desire, and navigate out with the touch of a fingertip.

In addition, Yahoo! Maps for iPhone is equipped with an incredibly fast and intuitive search tool to help you find places even quicker. Too bad Yahoo! Maps doesn't include the same satellite view as Google Earth though.

Although there are still a few minor bugs to iron out, Yahoo! Maps for iPhone manages to offer a quick and convenient way of finding places when you're out and about.

Download Yahoo! Maps for iPhone in Softonic

This powerful app allows you to create custom maps and plan out routes by importing in graphics and images of maps from your PC in bitmap or JPEG format. You then have the option to add reference text, photos, or location data.

MapIt contains a 'Navigation' feature, which utilizes your GPS receiver to add more data about your location and environs. Once you've got to grips with the program you'll even be able to construct GPS maps and photo tours to use as a navigation aid.

The downside to MapIt is that it is very complicated and confusing to use, and you'll probably spend about half an hour trying to get it to do anything at all. Zooming in and out of the maps isn't very intuitive and even after reading the Help section, I still wasn't clear about what all of the features do.

If you have the patience to learn MapIt though, you find it to be one of the most powerful mobile mapping solutions on the market.

Download Mapit 2.14 in Softonic

Atlas 2010 is a free iPhone atlas that allows you to explore the World with one finger. You choose a continent to explore from the app's main page then a physical map of that zone is displayed. You can move around the map by holding and dragging your finger, and pinch to zoom in an out.

The maps in Atlas 2010 aren’t very detailed in terms of the places they, but they do mark all capital cities and other important cities and ports. Country borders, rivers and topology are all on display too. Atlas 2010 also boasts a World political map, which, again, can be viewed by holding and dragging, or pinching the screen to zoom.

Atlas 2010 provides a decent enough visual representation of our planet. Essentially, it’s a scanned and scaled-down version of those big maps you used to have on the wall of your geography class.

However, Atlas 2010 comes nowhere close to Google Earth, which is by far the best way to learn geography on an iPhone.

Download Atlas 2011 Free 1.5 in Softonic